February 2025 Newsletter
Dear Community,
The topic of fire in the Holy Bible is significant and verses about it can be found in many of its books. When our community comes together for our gatherings and walk weekends, we continue to keep the fire going that gets started on each of the walks. The scripture for our Walk to Emmaus is about “our hearts burning within us”. A part of the Fourth Day talk includes, “A coal cannot burn long in isolation from the rest, but it burns long and brightly in the company of other burning embers”. And there is a hymn by Bryan Jeffrey Leech that includes those words, “for on its own, each ember loses fire. Yet joined as one the flame burns on to give warmth and light and to inspire”. And every time we are together as a community or as a team, we stoke that fire within us, spreading that warmth, light, and inspiration to everyone who is present. That is what I have received from you when I have been in your presence at our gatherings, reunion group times, teamings, and every walk I have attended. The light of Christ, the love and grace from God. Since COVID and our period of isolation, the embers we have may have smoldered, but the spark and heat have always remained. We used technology to stay in touch, encourage each other, reach out and maintain contact with one another. And we have resumed being together in person with the Richmond Emmaus community and continue to host our walk weekends. Throughout all those changes these past few years, we as a Christian community have kept the fire for Christ burning. I am ever so grateful to be a part of this with you.
We gather this coming Saturday, February 8, at Bon Air United Methodist Church on Buford Road. On that day, the decision to host the women’s spring walk for R-144 with be finalized. We currently have 6 applications and need a minimum of 12 pilgrims before R-144 can begin teaming. Time is short for this outcome, and I ask each of you in this community to see where your spark has touched someone and invite them to attend their Walk To Emmaus. You remember the blessings, the love, the grace, the fellowship you experienced on your walk, so share that experience with that friend and invite them. And let us have this spring walk filled with 20 pilgrims. And how awesome it would be for this community to create a waiting list for the next walks! Remember, the men’s walk is also coming up in the fall. Come, join everyone at this gathering and let’s lift our joy to the Lord. Food will be ready at 6:00 p.m. and the music, fellowship, and worship will begin at 6:30.
R-145 (women) Walk Weekend: April 24-27, 2025
Links for applications
• Pilgrim application https://form.jotform.com/
• Team (inside and outside) application https://tinyurl.com/
• Sponsor Application https://form.jotform.com/
Your servant,
Neal Fleenor